Saturday, April 27, 2013

I've been pretty lazy in the write an update department so here is a quick overview of what i have been up to of late.
After leaving Salt Lake City by train late at night I went to San Francisco where I spend four days walking to, past and over all it's attractions. I loved the waterfront and Pier 39 and walked from downtown SF to Sausalito via the Golden Gate Bridge. I admired Alcatraz and was delighted by the old neighbourhoods and colourful shops.
Next I hopped on the train again for an almost 24 hour trip to Seattle. For me the train is the way to travel. Space to move about, a bed to sleep in and interesting people to talk to.
Seattle is on the whole a very nice town with a very scenic harbour and all against a backdrop of snow capped mountains gorgeous really.

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Some photos taken in and around the centre of the world as far as Mormons are concerned. It was a cold and clear day and I was lucky enough to hear a rehearsal by the Mormon Tabernacle choir as well as a recital on the famous organ in the same building.

It has surprised and at times shocked me to see the number of homeless people in America. Case in point when I arrived in Salt Lake City I walked into town past a Catholic welfare organisation where at least two hundred people were milling around and several were making their home for the night in an adjacent park with not much more then a plastic bag for cover. It was snowing at the time. Most restaurants and the Mormon temple complex gates have people standing around with signs begging for money or food.
It seems to me that a country that holds itself up as an example for others to follow should take greater care of those at the bottom of the ladder, those at the top will take care of themselves.

Monday, April 15, 2013

It's big, magnificent and when I got there cold.
After a days travel I pulled up at the Mather campground in the Grand Canyon national park just as the wind that had been blowing all day turned to gale force and the skies that had been a foreboding grey opened up and a flurry of snow came down. Now normally I like snow but when you are trying to set up a tent barely bigger then yourself and then get both yourself and your backpack in there without getting wet can be a challenge.

Vegas has changed a lot since I was there last 25 years ago everything seems to have been taken to the umpteenth degree. There are more lights, more shows, more booze and more scantily clad women selling everything from timeshare condos to themselves. Definitely an adult only playground.

I spend two days in Disneyland and Disney California Adventure and quite frankly that was only enough because I was there from nine in the morning until ten at night. If you have kids you need at least double that time.
As I have been there before I concentrated on the new big ticket rides like Star Wars and Indiana Jones but I also really liked the roller coaster in California adventure and was again amazed at how clean and well organised the place is. The evening show of Fantasmic was fantastic indeed with everything from pirate ships to dragons, fireworks and laser projections.